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What follows is the May 22nd edition of my weekly column written for DIG Magazine.

The Crescent City has but one commercial brewery, and that is the New Orleans Lager & Ale Brewing Company – NOLA for short. It was founded in 2008, and in a short period of time has become one of the top names in Louisiana for local hand-crafted beer.

NOLA’s Brown ale was one of its original flagship brews, and it still proves to be popular today. While technically it is an English dark mild ale, NOLA Brown is a light-bodied, but full-flavored ale. It pours a deep brown with hints of ruby when held up to the light. The nose is a faint caramel and roasted chocolate with some molasses notes. The taste is a bit roastier than the aroma, yet it is an easy-to-drink beer with a light mouthfeel and virtually no hop presence.

One of the best features of NOLA Brown is that it weighs in at only 3.9 percent ABV, which is even less than your typical domestic light beer. That means you can drink several in a sitting, making this one a great introduction to craft beer, especially if you’re looking to drink a locally brewed ale.

You can find six pack cans of NOLA Brown in any supermarket around town for about $9, as well as on draft at many local restaurants.